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Court passes buck on geology rift

Glasgow University's court has backed off deciding the future of a department accused of conflict, factionalism and lack of leadership.

The court last week received a review committee report on the department of geology and applied geology that concluded: "The department is so riven with enmity, antagonism and professional jealousy that its continuation in its present form can no longer be countenanced."

But the court has now referred the report to senate, which meets in May, to consider the academic implications of recommendations including cutting geology's academic staff from 18 to a maximum of eight, with the department becoming a division within the department of geography and topographic science from October. The report warns that spending on staffing is set to continue exceeding income by at least 50 per cent.

The committee found geology had had disappointing results in the last two research assessment exercises, and has recommended that the staff who keep their jobs should be partly selected for their potential input to the next RAE.